Important goals such as saving the environment, environmental sustainability and reducing energy use are among the goals shared by the Water, Energy, Technology, and Environment Exhibition (WETEX 2015), the leading international industry event to be organised by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) between 21-23 April 2015, to support environmental sustainability and promote green economy.
WETEX 2015 is touted as an ideal platform, where leading manufacturers showcase the latest electric-vehicle technologies including batteries and charging stations, with a special focus on speeding up the charging process with no added risks. Visitors will be able to review new types of vehicles, their features, and modern technologies. Organisers seek to attract more manufacturers and supporters of electric vehicles and batteries, and charging-station developers.
Organised under the umbrella of Green Week, WETEX 2015 contributes to spreading a culture of green initiatives in the UAE. This, directly or indirectly, supports the electric vehicle industry as it promotes the importance of environmental sustainability and protecting the environment. Electric vehicles are cutting-edge examples of what Green Week is all about.
"Last February, DEWA inaugurated the first electric-vehicle charging station in Dubai in its main office. This supports the Smart Dubai initiative and the vision of Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to transform Dubai into the smartest city in the world. This pioneering initiative greatly supports DEWA's efforts to reduce the carbon footprint, protect the environment, and drive Dubai's sustainable development. We are confident this project will have the full support of Dubai residents as well as government and private organisations," said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA and President and Founder of WETEX, in a press release.
The first phase of the project includes installing 16 charging stations for public use. Each station can accommodate two vehicles at the same time. Twelve stations have been installed at DEWA's centres, which can charge 24 vehicles simultaneously. During phase two of the project, 84 charging stations of different types will be installed across Dubai. These include fast, public, and home charging stations. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2015.
Electric vehicles are attracting more and more users because less time is required to charge their batteries, which weigh and cost less. They can help their owners achieve financial savings by saving them the costs of petrol, in addition to using an environmentally-friendly car that keeps the environment clean and achieves sustainability.
An electric vehicle uses only electricity as an alternative to fuel (gasoline or diesel), while a hybrid vehicle uses a combination of electricity and fuel, where it uses electricity for a certain distance, and also uses fuel.
Electric vehicles use batteries that are recharged at stations, similar to petrol stations. Car manufacturers are competing to develop electric vehicles that can run longer and more efficiently using electricity only, depending on better and more advanced batteries.
Although the majority of vehicles produced around the world each year run on fuel, the electric vehicle industry is growing steadily. The rapid advancements in electric vehicle technologies since the last decade have encouraged most global automobile companies to produce or plan to produce electric vehicles. An electric vehicle uses only electricity as an alternative to fuel (gasoline or diesel), while a hybrid vehicle uses a combination of electricity and fuel, where it uses electricity for a certain distance, and also uses fuel.
DEWA is building three types of electric vehicle charging stations that are compatible with the latest international technologies used in electric vehicles. The setting up of the three types will be based on recommendations by the project's consultants. Types of charging stations are: :: Fast charging stations: Charging takes 20-40 minutes. They will be installed in petrol stations and on highways.
:: Medium charging stations: Charging takes 2-4 hours. They will be installed in shopping malls, parks, offices, etc.
:: Home charging stations: Charging takes 6-hours.
DEWA says developing charging stations is yet another investment opportunity that is growing steadily, especially as it supports environmental sustainability.